West Gate chase teen granted bail

A would-be school captain arrested in dramatic scenes on top of the West Gate Bridge after a crime spree through metropolitan Melbourne has been granted bail.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, is facing multiple charges, including armed robbery and vehicle theft over a rampage on jewellery stores and tobacconists, followed by a long-distance car chase on November 14.

A bail hearing in a children's court on Tuesday was told the teen was one of three youths charged over the events.

A stolen green Holden Commodore was driven to several jewellery stores and tobacconists with the offenders "terrorising" the community by using crowbars to smash cabinets and threaten staff and customers, the police prosecutor told the court.

Police then spotted the car in Heidelberg and followed it to Dandenong before the pursuit crossed the city to Little River near Geelong.

Stop sticks were used to try and halt the car, but it continued to drive about 40km until there was a mechanical failure on the West Gate Bridge, the court was told.

Police swarmed the vehicle and had to smash windows open to arrest the three youths inside.